Jeremy Sochan’s Future in San Antonio Looks All But Sealed
This was supposed to be a pivotal year for Jeremy Sochan - a chance to level up, prove his value, and carve out a long-term role with the Spurs. Instead, it’s been a season full of misfires and missed opportunities for the third-year forward, and now, with the trade deadline looming, his time in San Antonio may be nearing its end.
Expectations were high coming into the season. Sochan was entering a contract year, and many around the league believed he was poised for a breakout - especially if he could show growth as a shooter and find his fit alongside Victor Wembanyama on a young, hungry Spurs roster. But an early injury derailed his momentum before it really began, and since then, he’s struggled to regain his footing.
Sochan has slipped out of the regular rotation, appearing mostly in short stints and spot minutes. Even with starting forward Harrison Barnes going through his own rough stretch, interim head coach Mitch Johnson hasn’t turned to Sochan for extended run - a clear signal that the coaching staff doesn’t see him as part of the current solution.
The Fit Just Hasn’t Worked
The issue, at its core, is fit - particularly with Wembanyama. Sochan’s lack of a reliable perimeter shot makes him an easy defensive assignment for opposing centers, who can sag off and clog the lane, making life harder for the Spurs’ primary creators. That’s a big problem for a team trying to build around Wembanyama’s unique skill set and maximize spacing for guards like Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper.
It’s not just about missing shots - it’s about how his presence on the floor affects the team’s overall offensive flow. And in today’s NBA, where spacing is everything, that’s a tough hurdle to overcome.
A Trade Seems Likely
With Sochan out of the rotation and the Spurs unlikely to extend him a qualifying offer this summer, all signs point to a trade before the deadline. It’s a move that would benefit both sides. San Antonio has a history of treating its players with respect, and giving Sochan a chance to reset his career elsewhere - and potentially earn a new contract - would be consistent with that approach.
Don’t expect a blockbuster return. The market for Sochan isn’t exactly robust right now.
A modest package - something like a fringe rotation player, salary filler, and a future second-round pick - might be the most realistic outcome. Think along the lines of a deal involving a player like Knicks center Guerschon Yabusele and a distant draft asset.
That said, there’s been chatter that the Spurs could try to sweeten the pot by attaching a first-round pick to Sochan in hopes of landing a more impactful contributor. That would signal a more aggressive move, likely as part of a larger trade to accelerate the team’s rebuild around Wembanyama.
A Long Shot, But a Tempting One
One hypothetical deal floated recently involved Sochan, Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, and a first-rounder in exchange for Brooklyn forward Michael Porter Jr. That’s the kind of swing-for-the-fences move that would generate real buzz in San Antonio - a chance to turn a fading asset into a potential star. It’s speculative, sure, but it illustrates the kind of thinking the Spurs might be entertaining behind the scenes.
The End of the Road in Silver and Black?
Regardless of how the trade deadline shakes out, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Sochan’s days in San Antonio are numbered. It’s a disappointing turn for a player who once looked like a key piece of the Spurs’ future. But sometimes, the fit just isn’t there - and when that happens, both the player and the team are better off moving on.
For Sochan, a fresh start could be exactly what he needs. For the Spurs, it’s about continuing to shape the roster around their generational centerpiece. Either way, it feels like the Jeremy Sochan era in San Antonio is drawing to a close.